Biya holds Cameroon National Security Council Meeting - Why?

The men who are supposed to ensure that Cameroon is safe and secure met at the behest of President Paul Biya, in a session of the country's national security council on Thursday.

The Council had never met since it was created in January 2009. Why did Biya choose to convene the members now? 

"...Paul BIYA told members of the National Security Council to be vigilant and foresighted so that we can better face new security risks such as the taking of hostages, piracy and terrorist attacks," a statement on the website of the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon said. 

There have been several "pirate attacks" on the west-coast of Cameroon in recent years. Some have led to the capture and killing of civilians, local authorities, soldiers and expatriates. Gangs have stormed the coastal towns of Limbe and Douala and raided banks. In March, assailants stormed a bank in the Bonaberi neighbourhood in the country's economic capital using explosives and heavy weapons.

Security analysts have blamed poor coordination and unprofessionalism of the West-Central African nation's several security and intelligience services for the inability to prevent such acts.

"I expect the Council to ensure a better coordination of the services (involved in national security) which have often worked separately," Biya said at the meeting.

He also insisted on collaboration between services charged with internal security and those working on external security.

Could recent events - involving the Boko Haram group - in neighbouring Nigeria have jolted the men in Yaounde out of their comfort zone? 

Boko Haram, which has claimed responsibility for bombings and shootings that have killed scores of Nigerians (and  reportedly 9 Cameroonians ), operates in areas near the rather porous border with Cameroon.

"He was beginning to worry about Islamic extremists infiltrating Cameroon from Nigeria and making inroads through Cameroonian mosques," a leaked U.S. diplomatic cable published by Wikileaks said of the Cameroon President.

Analysts suspect the Council also discussed national security issues ahead of presidential elections slated for later this year. There have been a few attempts by opposition groups to organise protests to call for free and fair elections and in some cases for Biya to leave power.

Though such demonstrations have been crushed by security forces, some politicians say discontent over economic and social difficulties could boil over (into a spiral of violence) towards the elections should the incumbent run for re-election.

President Biya who has ruled since 1982 has yet to say if he would run, although his supporters have been urging him on. 

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